-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Feasting on turkey aside , brace yourself for that other Thanksgiving ritual : joining a nationwide mad dash to make it to a family gathering and back in a journey that can exasperate even the most seasoned traveler .

If you 're flying for the holiday , expect lots of company and few airfare deals .

`` The airlines have eliminated tens of thousands of seats due to consolidation and just plain old capacity cuts and -LRB- they 're -RRB- using smaller planes , '' said George Hobica , president of Airfarewatchdog.com . `` So there are going to be fewer seats . ''

It 's also a bit trickier to book flights for Thanksgiving than Christmas because so many travelers want to fly in such a small window of time : four days versus two weeks for many people who save vacation time for the big holiday in December .

The sputtering economy is n't keeping Americans from making the annual trek for Thanksgiving , said Melissa Klurman , contributing editor for Travelocity .

Those who will be flying over the holiday will pay $ 376 on average for a domestic ticket , or about 4 % more than at the same time last year , according to Travelocity .

Here are five tips to make your journey a smoother one .

1 . Book your tickets now

Last-minute sales are n't likely for one of the most popular times of the year to fly and seat maps are filling up quickly .

`` Do n't delay : Prices are not going to go down between now and Thanksgiving , '' Klurman said .

`` Not only do you have a better chance of getting lower airfare , but also -LRB- better -RRB- seats . You can book your seat when you book your airfare . So if you do n't want to be in the middle of the last row -- the early bird gets the window seat in that case . ''

If you 're flying with someone for Thanksgiving , the chances of sitting together on the plane are also higher if you book early , Hobica said .

2 . Look into alternate airports

Sometimes , it pays to look into flying in and out of airports that may be less convenient than your closest option . So you may find a cheaper flight out of Allentown , Pennsylvania , than Philadelphia , for example , Hobica said .

Be especially flexible if you 're in a major city like New York , where there are several airports in the area , Klurman said . Travelocity allows fliers to search alternate airports when they 're pricing itineraries .

3 . Consider flying on Thanksgiving Day

Travelers who choose to fly out on the Monday before Thanksgiving and fly back on the Sunday after will pay on average $ 213 more than travelers who fly on Thanksgiving Day and come back the next day , Travelocity calculated .

Flying on the holiday also means much less crowded airports and planes .

`` Have your turkey and then come back on Friday , '' Hobica advised .

Lest you think it 's impossible to do , Hobica assured that plenty of travelers have successfully gone this route , `` especially if they do n't like their family or if they 're sleeping on the sofa and the sleeping arrangements are n't comfortable , '' he said with tongue in cheek .

In general , avoid a Sunday return , Travelocity advised . If you are flying on Thanksgiving Day , try to take the first flight out to make sure you make it to dinner .

4 . Give yourself plenty of time

Connecting flights are often cheaper , but with the possibility of winter weather causing delays or cancellations over Thanksgiving , you risk a missed connection , Hobica said . He suggests travelers fly nonstop whenever possible , but if you do choose a multistop itinerary , allow lots of time to catch your next flight .

If you miss a connection , Travelocity warns that with planes booked solid , it could be a while before your airline is able to book you on another flight .

5 . Consider paying some extra fees to make the trip more comfortable

Hobica frequently flies JetBlue and he always pays a fee for seats with extra legroom , an option that comes with access to expedited security lanes and early boarding .

The choices vary by airlines , but several , including American and United , let you board early for a fee , thus helping you avoid the epic struggle for overhead bin space . It may be worth paying this extra charge during peak travel times , like Thanksgiving , to make the journey saner , Hobica said .

Another , more expensive option is to splurge for an airport lounge day pass , which can cost $ 30 - $ 50 .

`` If you only fly once a year , sometimes the day passes are worthwhile , especially if your flight is delayed , '' Hobica said .

`` They have free drinks in most of the lounges , snacks and shorter lines if you have to rebook your flight . ... It just makes the whole experience a bit more pleasant when you treat yourself well and get the perks . ''

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Book your Thanksgiving flights as soon as possible for best fares and seats

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Travelocity : Average domestic ticket will cost $ 376 , or about 4 % more than last Thanksgiving

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Consider flying on Thanksgiving Day and try to avoid a Sunday return

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Some extra fees may be worth paying to make the trip more comfortable